Has anyone heard of "virtual pc doctor"? A friend asked me to look into this. She received an unsolicited call from someone claiming to be from a company with the above name saying that there has been alot of computer problems in her area, and that they can fix the problems but first they need to access her computer to find the errors. She was given a website to go to, a password kinda thing to enter and then voila, they were in her computer. Anyhow to make a long story longer, she realized afterward that perhaps they were not legit, and is now worried about what they could have done. I told her the possibilities were infinate, from identity theft, to viruses to phishing and on and on. Or they could be legit but i doubt it...or, at the end of it all they spouted off all the errors they supposedly found and said for 250 dollars they could fix it, and this would give her a subscription for their service to continue...so it could be just a straight forward financial scam....has anyone heard of them and if so, what is their game if any and what do you suggest for her now that she has already given them access at least once. 3 people need an answerI do too

This is very similar to a scam that Microsoft warns users about under the heading Microsoft does not make unsolicited phone calls to help you fix your computer on the Avoid scams that use the Microsoft name fraudulently page. I've never heard of a legitimate company making such calls.I'm sorry to say it, but your friend might be a victim of identity theft, and there might be malware on her computer. I recommend that she contact her credit card company and ask them to cancel the charge, cancel the card, and issue a new card. She should also get expert malware removal help.Boulder Computer Maven Microsoft Most Valuable Professional

I just got off the phone with someone claiming to be calling from "virtual pc doctor". I was reading this forum post as I was on the call, trying to figure whether this is a scam. The person I was talking to said he was called Brandon Smith but he was Indian?!The instructions I was given was exactly the same as the Lizzy65's post. The person gave me instructions over the phone to go into Computer Management > Event Viewer > Applications. And then count how many errors and warnings I had on the page, those were the corrupted files that I needed virtual pc doctor to clean out according to him. I got up to the stage where they were about to give me a password to allow remote access and then told him that I will call their official number if I wanted to go forward with it.I'm still unsure whether it's a complete scam but I figured I didn't want to go into all the trouble to be told I will have to pay a fee for them to take away those "corrupted files" and give them access to my computer.If anyone have more computer knowledge. Would be great if they can tell me whether those error and warning icons really indicate corrupted files.

It's a complete scam.It's normal for any Windows computer to show hundreds of errors and warnings in the Application log. They don't indicate corrupted files.Boulder Computer MavenMicrosoft Most Valuable Professional

On Mon, 9 Aug 2010 10:50:34 +0000, Axius wrote:I just got off the phone with someone claiming to be calling from "virtual pc doctor". I was reading this forum post as I was on the call, trying to figure whether this is a scam. The person I was talking to said he was called Brandon Smith but he was Indian?!The instructions I was given was exactly the same as the Lizzy65's post. The person gave me instructions over the phone to go into Computer Management > Event Viewer > Applications. And then count how many errors and warnings I had on the page, those were the corrupted files that I needed virtual pc doctor to clean out according to him. I got up to the stage where they were about to give me a password to allow remote access and then told him that I will call their official number if I wanted to go forward with it.I'm still unsure whether it's a complete scam but I figured I didn't want to go into all the trouble to be told I will have to pay a fee for them to take away those "corrupted files" and give them access to my computer.If anyone have more computer knowledge. Would be great if they can tell me whether those error and warning icons really indicate corrupted files.It's a complete scam, and a more and more common one these days. Inthe future, hang up on people like this and do not do anything theytell you to do.Ken Blake

Remember: Microsoft does not contact users unless they are contacted first.Andrea Lattarulo

just got off the fone with one of the indian guys from"virtual pc doctor" .they're pretty hard out!!!harder than trying to drown a water rat.

Hi, jst got a call here in Ireland from those indian guys (not the red indians). He said my pc was infected. I told him that my pc was in the repair shop (it wasn't but it was an obvious scam. I downloaded virtual pc doc from the net as it was advertised as free. I then found out after running the scan that I would have to pay to get them removed, so i uninstalled it. I didn't give my real name nor my real address or real email addie. I didn't give them a phone number either. Here's the deal. i signed up for an internet dongle account with 3 mobile here in Ireland, it prob has a parent corp. They have my phone number, my addie and email. There call centre is in ( u guessed it) India. So someone who works for the internet company with access to my info quite possible handed it out the backdoor to these virtual pc repair guys, who are prob in the building next door or are at least close by.

I just got the same call not 30 minutes ago. I played along and when they told me that the errors in the event viewer were corrupt files I laughed at him and told him that he didn't know what he was talking about. I then tried to find out what they were selling and it was some sort of full computer protection solution but I had to go to this website logmein123.com I stopped him right there and said just what are you going to do on my computer? He replied that they were going to fix it. I told him that I know this is a scam and that there was no way he could get on my machine and its running fine and hung up. Bottom line this is a scam and you should never allow anyone you don't know to connect on your computer.

I got a phone call on friday .An Indian fella called claiming that my computer had all different virusus exact same thing happened .They got my credit card details and got into my computer .Ive cancelled my credit card .What do I do with my computer now .?

On Mon, 13 Sep 2010 12:50:16 +0000, skewback10 wrote: > I got a phone call on friday .An Indian fella called claiming that my computer had all different virusus exact same thing happened .They got my credit card details and got into my computer .Ive cancelled my credit card .What do I do with my computer now .? You've been scammed. Do two things. 1. Change all your passwords: e-mail, financial sites, everythingelse. 2. Do a clean reinstallation of Windows. Do both of those as soon as possible. Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP

IT IS A SCAM i go seven calls in one day from the same indian guy saying: "all of the errors on your computer are caused by a junk file which can not be picked up by any anti-virus" which isnt true, because anything that goes through an anti-virus with a suspicious code gets deleted.

INDIA and NIGERIA are the worlds top scammers.As for INDIA its a old boys network where bank, computer and other details, lifted or hacked, or just plain copied by employees of various institutions are bought and sold.Some english call centres are based in INDIA, so the scams and info lifting is world wide and instantaneous.Here in England, Our local gas/garages were lifting debit/credit cards info and funding the TAMIL TIGERS TERRORIST ORGANISATION, with the stolen cash.Never ever give your personal details to strangers, because in the end you will be CLEANED OUT.PS. ref those INDIAN phone call scammers, how do you think they got your details?you must wake up!!!

On Tue, 14 Sep 2010 22:28:33 +0000, ALEXANDER22 wrote: > INDIA and NIGERIA are the worlds top scammers. Countries aren't scammers. People are scammers. In any country there are scammers and non-scammers. I don't care whichcountries have more scammers than other countries, and I don't thinkanyone else should pay any attention to this. Everyone should payattention to the *content* of the e-mail message, telephone call, etc.that he gets, not to where it came it from or what kind of accent thecaller has. Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP

I'm here in New Zealand and have just been called. Same modus operandi - they knew my name and the fact I was a Windows user. As an IT Pro I thought I would have some fun. I told him I was on dial-up and so could not talk to him and go to his web site at the same time :-) They are very persistent and he wanted to know how we could proceed. I told him I would go to the neighbour's house to use his phone, but I would have to check with the neighbour first before giving his number to the Indian. I left him on hold for 20 minutes and the silly bugger was still there when my daughter picked up the phone and told him to call back next year.On a serious note, I help out a lot of less confident people in our village and if these people called them I would hate to think what would happen.David Rice

Virtual pc doctor is not a Microsoft's initiative that is very clear. They called me too and accessed my pcl. I have taken a year long subscription and things are working absolutely fine. for me it's not a scam and i don't care about rest of world. And as far as i remember they never used "Microsoft" during their call.

nice English :)

Virtual pc doctor is not a Microsoft's initiative that is very clear. They called me too and accessed my pcl. I have taken a year long subscription and things are working absolutely fine. for me it's not a scam and i don't care about rest of world. And as far as i remember they never used "Microsoft" during their call.We'll see how long " things are working absolutely fine " when your identity or credit card is stolen.And, for your information, the rest of the world really doesn't care about you either. They do care about infected computers on the internet that infect others' computers and the risk of having either their credit cards or identities being stolen.BTW, your user account for the SocialAnswers forum was just created today. You don't happen to work for one of these companies, do you ? MowGreen Windows Expert IT Pro - Consumer Security

Some times u need to take initiative. I took it that day. It does not mean i am linked to them.Speaking for them makes me one of them ?????? if "yes" it might be your logic. Speaking against them makes u their competitor using your logic only. NO OFFENCE :) Yeah we will see when is my identity stolen.and BTW it seems like "me" not caring about anyone made u uneasy. hmmm ??

Some times u need to take initiative. I took it that day. It does not mean i am linked to them.Speaking for them makes me one of them ?????? if "yes" it might be your logic. Speaking against them makes u their competitor using your logic only. NO OFFENCE :) Yeah we will see when is my identity stolen.and BTW it seems like "me" not caring about anyone made u uneasy. hmmm ??

I recommend using an identity theft protection service like Lifelock. http://www.lifelock.com/landing/real/safe . They are currently offering 10% off if you use promo code SAFEID1. Hope this helps.I 'm also a contracted representative of LifeLock, so if you have any questions about their identity theft protection services, let me know.

(removing)

March77March77,Please note that posting SPAM in any Microsoft forum violates theCode of Conduct. Kindly read the document and adhere to its policies. We have modified the post in question, but please know that you risk being banned from posting in all Microsoft forums if violation continues. Thank you for your cooperationDebra Microsoft Answers Support Engineer Visit our Microsoft Answers Feedback Forum and let us know what you think